By Stephanie Sanchez, El Paso Times

EL PASO -- During a time of pain and mourning, 11-year-old Jose Chavez made the brave decision to donate his late brother's organs to help save the lives of other people.

When the Chavez family was first approached about donating 19-year-old Ivan's organs, they were reluctant. But Jose made the final call.

"I didn't want to at first," Jose said. "But I told them (his family) they should because I didn't want them to go to waste. So I decided we should donate them. I wanted him to continue to live through other people."

Ivan Chavez's right kidney was donated to a 47-year-old man,his left kidney to a 16-year-old boy, his liver to a 47-year-old man, and his heart to a 46-year-old woman.

All of those recipients were from Texas, said Pam Silvestri of the Southwest Transplant Alliance.

Ivan's lungs were donated to a 52-year-old man who lives in another state, she said.

Ivan Chavez and Elizabeth Lopez, 45, who died of a brain aneurysm Dec. 31 and whose kidneys were donated to two people, were honored during a small ceremony Thursday at Thomason Hospital.

Their photographs were added to the Wall of Heroes in the intensive care unit waiting room.

David Chavez Sr. said that his family initially refused to donate his son's organs because it wasn't something they had thought about.

"My son (Jose) made the ultimate decision," he said. "We feel very happy because we know that our son continues to live. He continues to live through other people. He saved other lives. We are very happy because we know he saved those lives and those people are happy."

Ivan Chavez, who was described as a respectful and caring person, died six days after being injured Dec. 16 in a crash in West El Paso. He was riding in a vehicle driven by Alejandro Sierra Montoya, 26, who was charged with intoxicated assault and accident involving injury or death.